Ri People - Biographies

Discover the unique history of the Ri through the amazing people who have worked here since 1799 including our past Presidents, Directors and resident scientists.

Charles Anderson

Charles Anderson (1790-1866)

Lecture and Laboratory Assistant 1832-1866

Edward Neville da Costa Andrade presenting the 1950 CHRISTMAS LECTURES

Edward Neville da Costa Andrade (1887-1971)

Biography of Edward Neville da Costa Andrade

Reverend John Barlow

Reverend John Barlow (1798-1869)

Ri Secretary 1843-1860

Margaret Ann Boden (1936-)

Chair of Council 1993-1995

John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara (1884-1964)

John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara (1884-1964)

President, 1948-1963; Honorary Professor, 1963-1964

William Lawrence Bragg

William Lawrence Bragg (1890-1971)

Biography of William Lawrence Bragg

William Henry Bragg

William Henry Bragg (1862-1942)

Biography of William Henry Bragg

Portrait of William Thomas Brande by H. W. Pickersgill

William Thomas Brande (1788-1866)

Biography of William Thomas Brande

Charles Richard Arthur Catlow

Charles Richard Arthur Catlow (1947-)

Biography of Charles Richard Arthur Catlow

William Albert Coates

William Albert Coates (1919-1993)

Lecture and Laboratory Assistant, 1948-1986

ri lecture podium

William Crookes (1832-1919)

Ri Secretary 1900-1912

Henry Hallett Dale

Henry Hallett Dale (1875-1968)

Biography of Henry Hallett Dale

Photograph of David Phillips, head and shoulders facing forward

David Phillips (b.1939)

Professor of Natural Philosophy, 1980–1989

Humphry Davy

Humphry Davy (1778-1829)

Biography of Humphry Davy

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John Davy (1790-1868)

Biography of John Davy

Peter Day (1938–2020)

Biography of Peter Day

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Cecil Henry Desch (1874-1958)

Biography of Cecil Henry Desch

James Dewar

James Dewar (1842-1923)

Biography of James Dewar

Micheal Faraday portrait

Michael Faraday (1791-1867)

Biography of Michael Faraday

George Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea

George Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea (1752-1826)

Biography of George Finch, the first Ri President.

John Hall Gladstone

John Hall Gladstone (1827-1902)

Fullerian Professor of Chemistry, 1874-1877

William John Green in laboratory

William John Green (c.1882-1974)

Lecture and Laboratory Assistant, 1900-1950

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Baroness Susan Greenfield (1950- )

Biography of Baroness Susan Greenfield

William Robert Grove

William Robert Grove (1811-1896)

Biography of William Robert Grove

Thomas Harrison

Thomas Harrison (1771-1824)

Ri Secretary, 1813-1824

John William Edward Heath

John William Edward Heath (1856-1934)

Lecture and Laboratory Assistant, 1881-1925

Anthony Hewish

Anthony Hewish (1924-)

Professor of Astronomy, 1976-1981

Ri podium

Andrew Fielding Huxley (1917-)

Fullerian Professor of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy, 1967-1973

Thomas Henry Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895)

Fullerian Professor of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy, 1855-1858, 1865-1869

Professor Frank James

Frank James

Professor of the History of Science and Head of Collections

Henry Bence Jones photographed by Maull and Polyblank

Henry Bence Jones (1813-1873)

Ri Secretary 1860-1873

Arthur Keith

Arthur Keith (1866-1955)

Biography of Arthur Keith

John Kendrew with Dorothy Hodgkin

John Cowdery Kendrew (1917-1997)

Reader in Crystallography, 1954-1968

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent (1935-)

President, 1976-present

Kathleen Lonsdale, image © National Portrait Gallery, London

Kathleen Lonsdale née Yardley (1903–1971)

Researcher in the DFRL, 1923–1927, 1930–1946

Irena Maria McCabe

Irena Maria McCabe (1931-2015)

Head of Library, Archives and Information Services, 1973-1997

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Peter Brian Medawar (1915-1987)

Professor of Experimental Medicine, 1977-1982

John Meurig Thomas (1932 – 2020)

Biography of John Meurig Thomas

Stanley Paul Osmond

Stanley Paul Osmond (1917-2000)

Treasurer, 1981-1986; Chair of Council, 1989-1992

Richard Owen

Richard Owen (1804-1892)

Fullerian Professor of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy, 1858-1862

Quentin Pankhurst

Quentin Pankhurst

Director of the DFRL, 2008-2013

William Hazledine Pepys

William Hazledine Pepys (1775-1856)

Ri Vice President, 1816

Max Ferdinand Perutz

Max Ferdinand Perutz (1914-2002)

Biography of Max Ferdinand Perutz

David Chilton, Baron Phillips of Ellesmere

David Chilton, Baron Phillips of Ellesmere (1924-1999)

Fullerian Professor of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy, 1979-1985

George Porter

George, Baron Porter of Luddenham (1920-2002)

Biography of George Porter

Alexander Oliver Rankine

Alexander Oliver Rankine (1881-1956)

Ri Secretary, 1945-1953

Eric Keightley Rideal

Eric Keightley Rideal (1890-1974)

Biography of Eric Keightley Rideal

Peter Mark Roget

Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869)

Fullerian Professor of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy, 1834-1837

Ernest, Baron Rutherford of Nelson

Ernest, Baron Rutherford of Nelson (1871-1937)

Professor of Natural Philosophy, 1921-1937

Charles Scott Sherrington

Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952)

Fullerian Professor of Physiology and Comparative Anatomy, 1915-1918

Alexander Siemens

Alexander Siemens (1847-1928)

Secretary, 1913-1915

William Spottiswoode

William Spottiswoode (1825-1883)

Ri Treasurer, 1865-1873; Secretary, 1873-1879

John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh

John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh (1842-1919)

Biography of John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh

Sir Richard Sykes

Sir Richard Sykes (1942-)

Chair of the Board of Trustees 2010-

Joseph John Thomson

Joseph John Thomson (1856-1940)

Biography of Joseph John Thomson

John Tyndall

John Tyndall (1820-1893)

Biography of John Tyndall

Benjamin Vincent

Benjamin Vincent (1818-1899)

Biography of Benjamin Vincent

Ri podium

Thomas Webster (1773-1844)

Ri Clerk of the Works 1799